Michael - Scribble Picnic Host!

Even if you don't know Michael you will know of him if you follow me and look

 at my Scribble Picnic entries on Wednesdays.

Right now we're taking a summer break as our little art co-op needs a

 chance to stay cool, well except for artist member Serena who's cool enough

 down under enjoying Australia's Winter months! Hello Serena.

Michael and I have been virtual friends for many, many years thanks to blogging.

He, like me, is a British ex-pat, and he, like me, is always somewhat homesick for

our former lives as children and teenagers in England. 

We each have stories to tell as to how we ended up here in America, bits of which 

we've gleaned from blog posts and comments over the years.

Now, at long last, Michael and I are going to meet in person! Bob and I plan to 

catch up with him in Colorado next weekend before he moves to Kentucky 

where his adorable wife/talented artist Alexandra has already settled in.

Would have loved to meet her too, hopefully that will happen sometime

 down the road.

Scribble Picnic Collage 2017-18

Soon we'll be heading west to enjoy a change of scenery and, most important, 

to meet up with a very, very special blog friend in Utah, followed by our visit to 

Colorado to meet Michael. 

Stay tuned for more this coming week.

After that dreary, damp post of yesterday, I'm happy to share good weather news. 

This morning the sun is brilliant, Bob is mowing the lawn before it gets too hot. 

I just gathered a ton of fragrant basil and am making pesto. 

Picked a few figs yesterday, added to sweet red plums they made a lovely

Gateau de Mamy - here's a link to another version as I forgot to take a photo of 

the fig-plum one.

I then cooked down remaining figs and plums with a little sugar and water

and puréed into a fruit coulis, adding crème de cassis once cooled.

Must say, served drizzled over the cake with a dollop of whipped cream

it was delicious. . . . . . . . . .and ruined my diet!

Wet and wetter. . . . . . .

Here it is August and North Carolina appears to have a

 new season. . . . . . . . 'The Wet'. 

Don't remember another Summer such as this with so much rain late July into August.

Waking morning after morning to saturated gardens, pools of water, low and

 threatening grey skies, over the top humidity numbers, and not a ray of sunshine, 

is depressing. Certainly not what summertime is usually like here.

Most outdoor activities have been postponed, especially at the coast where

riptides and storms have curtailed beach visits.

 My garden is literally waterlogged!

Last time I was in 'The Wet' - and it was expected at that time of year - was when 

visiting Vietnam. Somehow rainy days were extraordinarily beautiful there, perhaps

 because the radiant colors of the ancient buildings came to life in the rain.

Me in Vietnam - sandals, plastic poncho and a large umbrella - I was set to go!

Hue, Vietnam 2011

Do you like rainy days?

Finding a sense of calm. . . . . . . .

Sometimes, when life seems upended by unexpected matters of the day, 

just sitting at home is required to calm the mind.

The long, very long, like around the building queue, to get into the 

Department of Motor Vehicles to renew my driver's license, 

impossible. 90F, humid, no shade, and of course no seats.

I gave up and came home! Will try another day.

My cousin in England's lovely husband undergoing cancer surgery today,

awaiting good news. 

Hopes were dashed late last week as my newly found American second

 cousin lost her home in the horrific Redding, California 'Carr Wildfire.' 

I'm feeling helpless with 2,848 miles between us.

Some rain showers at night seem to be helping the figs ripen at last, 

however they just don't have a good flavor this year and I will not 

be making jam.

August here already. I don't know about you, but I'm 

already thinking about Autumn, my favorite season of the year.

We will be traveling this month and next, just short trips but to

lovely places. This is the year to spend time with special friends, 

including blog friends.

I need to start packing. . . . . . .I'm looking forward to 

getting back in the sky, and out on the road, to view the 

spectacular scenery we have right here in North America.

It's just so sad to see how quickly it can be obliterated 

by fire and other earth-shattering happenings.